LITHUANIAN PRISON CONCERNS

The Celtic League has received information concerning the welfare of Michael Campbell, the Irishman arrested in Lithuania in January 2008 for allegedly attempting to buy contraband cigarettes and/or arms and explosives.

The Celtic League wrote to the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 18th November expressing its concern about the treatment and conditions Mr Campbell was being subjected to while being held in a prison in Vilnius (the Lithuanian capital). The League was initially concerned primarily because of the scathing recent reports from the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) about the ill-treatment of prisoners in Lithuanian police stations and prisons and later subsequent reports from the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association about Mr Campbell welfare.

In their letter response the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the League that:

"We have no reason to believe that Mr Campbell is being treated less favourably than Lithuanian prisoners in pre-trial detention."

However, a letter that Mr Campbell posted this month to a correspondent, which was subsequently forwarded on to the League, vindicates our initial concerns. Excerpts of Mr Campbell's letter can be found below:

"I did write to Kate Jackson [Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas] but they would not take the letter off me so maybe this one will go.

I think the problem was the fact I was writing to an organisation and about how bad it is here, my wife was with me at the time here. She is at the moment out on bail

"We are in 23 hour lockup, only out for one hour a day to a very small yard that you can not do much of anything in. It is very cold here. You do not get warmed up moving in it. The cell I am in now has a toilet but the last couple had just a hole in the ground. Today's been the first of the month we got 2 rolls of toilet paper between four of us.

"The food is very bad - black tea, black bread, and a lot of raw fish. I am at most nearly a year here now and still have not been charged with anything and they have not come to show me anything even in court.

"I have not been let see anything. Have asked for visits and phone calls but none

"As regards the embassy out here they have been of very little help only for post from home which is costing people so much.

"...people in cell with me are from Turkey, Romania, Pakistan and very hard to talk to each other, so no joke telling even to talk to guards is a problem so again thank you for paper.

"As regards help the main thing is to get a visit or phone call as next month will be a year without talking to anyone.

"Mental torture, coming in and doing interviews when not meant to.

"It is the not-knowing what is going on to be locked up and not be charged with anything. I know this can go on for 18 months but it can go on longer if the DPP want to. So again thank you for writing and for paper, all very welcome.

"Posting on 02.12.08 Hope it gets to you."

The Celtic League has written once again to the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have copied the letter to the new Lithuanian Minister of Justice, Remigijus Simasius. The full text of the letter can be found below:

"21/12/08

Our Ref: AI080246

Dear

Michael Campbell

Many thanks for your letter dated 28th November 2008.

Even though it is stated in your letter that you have "no reason to believe that Mr Campbell is being treated less favourably than Lithuanian prisoners in pre-trial detention", we still nevertheless have concern for his welfare.

The League has now received correspondence from Mr Campbell from this month who has described his conditions and treatment at the prison where he is being held in Vilnius, Lithuania. From Mr Campbell's letter it seems likely that his rights are being violated under the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically Articles 3 and 8.1.

In his letter Mr Campbell complains of "mental torture" by the authorities, who have been interviewing him "when they were not meant to". He also refers to letters he has written not being sent, lack of contact with his family and inhumane conditions under which he is being kept. As mentioned in my previous letter to you, the conditions in prisons in Lithuania do not meet Council of Europe standards on the treatment of detained persons and the most recent Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) report criticises the standard of Lithuanian police procedures and detention facilities.

In the circumstances therefore, your comments in your previous letter would appear to be both imprudent and ill-informed and we would appreciate it if you could step up your efforts to ensure that Mr Campbell rights are being firmly upheld.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

cc. Minister Remigijus Simasius"

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 21/12/08